Box Score Danbury, CT — The State University of New York at New Paltz women's volleyball team beat Western Connecticut State University Tuesday, 3-0 (25-23, 25-13, 25-23).
 
The win brings the Hawks to 11-3 on the year. The match against the Colonials marks the last non-conference matchup for SUNY New Paltz before State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play begins Friday when it faces Buffalo State.
 
"We started out being a little late to our spots on defense, but certainly got better as the match went on," Hawks coach Matt Giufre said. "Doing some things we just started yesterday, I like our offensive creativity tonight."
 
Opening the first set down 2-6, the Hawks struggled to gain a lead early in the match. With Western Connecticut State never extending its lead to more than five, at 12-17, a timeout by SUNY New Paltz was the spark it needed to get back on track. An 11-1 run put the Hawks in front for the first time, 23-18 and in control of the set.
 
A 4-1 run by the Colonials brought them within striking distance of the set at 24-23, but it was not enough. Senior outside hitter Taylor Cimillo came up with a kill to give the Hawks the, 25-23 set win.
 
In a closely contested early second set at 13-9 Hawks, an unanswered seven-point streak, capped off by sophomore outside hitter Julie Greenspan kill, pushed SUNY New Paltz in front, 20-9. The deficit proved too much for the Colonials, as junior outside hitter Madison Van Pelt finished the set with a kill for the Hawks to win, 25-13.  
 
SUNY New Paltz's dominance faltered slightly in the third set, as it allowed Western Connecticut State to jump out to a quick 12-6 lead. A four-unanswered point run allowed a service ace by junior middle hitter Kerri Neville to tie the set at 14 for the Hawks.
 
In a set that featured five more ties, a kill by Van Pelt evened the set at 22 and throttled the Hawks to the finish line. A kill by senior setter Meredith Dignan, a bad set, and another kill by Van Pelt gave SUNY New Paltz the set 25-23, and the match 3-0.
 
Giufre credited the Hawks success to a message freshman middle hitter Shannon Thomas delivered to the team.
 
"[Thomas] brought the idea from her previous school to think of a game as 25 games to one instead of one game to 25," Giufre explained. "It was a powerful message that we latched onto, which allows us to focus on the present."
 
The Hawks return to action Friday when they travel to Cortland for their first weekend of SUNYAC play. They will play Buffalo State at 7 p.m., returning Saturday to face The College at Brockport and SUNY Cortland, starting at 2:30 p.m.

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